The Wizard, The Goat and The Man Who Won the War, which features BAFTA-winning actor Richard Elfyn (pictured) explores the mind and moods of the master politician and discovers mystery, poetry and a great deal of humour. Written and directed by Cardiff-based dramatist D.J.Britton, The Wizard, The Goat and The Man Who Won the War is the result of a lengthy collaboration between writer and actor. An early version was given a reading in Lloyd George’s home village of Llanystumdwy, Gwynedd, and last year the play had its first full try-out, to great acclaim, at the Dylan Thomas Festival in Swansea. Lloyd George is never far from the news and remains a crucial reference point for modern politicians. In Alastair Campbell’s diaries, published this month, the Labour spin doctor quotes Tony Blair describing Gordon Brown as “a Lloyd George figure, had massive qualities but was flawed”. As Britain heads into a new pensions crisis, the man who a century ago introduced the old-age pension is as fascinating as ever. The title of the play stems from the three nicknames given by the Press to a leader who took coalition government and political scandal in his stride and still found time for a colourful personal life. He was a giant of 20th Century global politics, yet his life poses many unanswered questions: How could this impoverished Welsh-speaking chapel boy become the steely Prime Minister who saw Britain through the First World War? How could the champion of non-conformist Christianity become a womaniser who lived a double life with his long-term mistress? How could this protector of the poor risk so much to advance his own personal wealth? The setting for Britton’s fictional drama is Antibes in the south of France at the time of Lloyd George’s 50th wedding anniversary. From there, his imagination travels the length of his life history, and relishes the thought of further personal and political conquests. The tour has been supported by funding from the Arts Council of Wales with production help from Swansea’s Taliesin Arts Centre, which is where the production will have its premiere performance on November 10th. D.J.Britton has won international awards with major stage hits such as Plainsong and Cargo. His version of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure for Sherman Cymru last year received rave reviews, and he was dramaturg on the ambitious Shelf Life project in the National Theatre Wales premiere season. Having moved to Wales from Australia, he is now Senior Lecturer in Dramatic Writing at Swansea University. Richard Elfyn is one of Wales’s best-loved performers with credits ranging from movies like The Dark to TV productions such as The History of Mr Polly and major stage productions including Clwyd Theatr Cymru’s recent To Kill A Mockingbird. Born in Bangor and brought up in Pwllheli, he now lives near Cardiff. Said Britton: “Lloyd George is a dramatist’s dream, a mass of contradictions: charismatic, intelligent, foolish, impulsive, clinically decisive and painfully human. I wrote this progressively, giving Richard a few pages at a time, and he grew to possess the role as much as it possessed him. “It may be a one-man play, but don’t expect a monologue. Richard becomes all the people in Lloyd George’s world and somehow manages to sing and dance his way into the great man’s soul. “It’s been a great privilege working with such a committed actor who seems to find reserves of energy from nowhere. Apparently Lloyd George could do that too. My favourite bit is where Richard as Lloyd George gets the War Cabinet to sing Myfanwy. It’s a glorious piece of performance.” The Wizard, The Goat and the Man Who Won the War will be performed at Aberystwyth Arts Centre on Thursday 17 November at 7.45pm. Tickets are £8 (£6). To book contact the ticket office on 01970 62 32 32 or go online www.aber.ac.uk/artscentre ....... The Wizard, The Goat and the Man Who Won the War opens at the Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea on 10 November, then tours to the Borough Theatre, Abergavenny (11 November); Galeri Caernarfon Cyf (12 November); Torch Theatre, Milford Haven (15 November); Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan (16 November); Canolfan y Celyddydau / Aberystwyth Arts Centre (17 November); Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold (21, 22 November); Neuadd Dwyfor, Pwllheli (23 November); Theatr Soar, Merthyr (25 November); Riverfront Theatre, Newport (26 November). Other dates to be announced. |
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Friday, October 21, 2011 |
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